A trademark century to flamboyant batsman Kevin Pietersen has helped England gain control of the third Test against Pakistan after the opening day.
With captain Andrew Strauss winning the toss and electing to bat, his faith was repaid as England turned on a strong performance to finish on 347-6 at stumps in the Headingley Test.
Despite his debonair knock, Pietersen was forced to retire hurt on 104 after succumbing to cramp in his forearm.
Second Test centurion Ian Bell was also in good form as he starred alongside Pietersen to see out the day on 66 not out.
After a convincing start, Mohammad Sami, bowling his second spell of the morning, exacted the first breakthrough for the visitors when he caught England opener Marcus Trescothick off his own bowling for 28.
Skipper Strauss follow four balls later when seamer Shahid Nazir had him edge an easy catch through to Younis Khan at second slip.
This brought Pietersen to the crease and, despite surviving a couple of early appeals, the top-order batsman proved to be a thorn in the side of the visitors for the rest of the day.
However, just as England appeared to have recovered from the loss of its openers, Umar Gul (4-73) struck in the final over before lunch.
Alastair Cook (23) sent a leading edge back to the bowler, who dived forward to take a smart catch.
Resuming after the luncheon break on 110-3, Pietersen and Paul Collingwood set about dismantling the Pakistani bowling attack.
It was Gul, however, who was the star of the show for the visitors again as he had Collingwood caught by Taufeeq Umar on 31, breaking an 82-run partnership in the process.
But England, guided by Pietersen, continued to dominate the final session of the day until Gul struck again twice to have new wicket-keep Chris Read and Matthew Hoggard out just before stumps.
